Direct synthesis of radioactive carbon labeled fullerences using nuclear reactions

The¹¹C and¹⁴C labeled fullerenes were produced by charged-particle and neutron irradiation, of C₆₀, C₇₀ and their mixture. It was found that a carbon atom of fullerence can be easily exchanged with a radioactive carbon atom produced by a nuclear reaction. The HPLC method was effective for identification and purification of various labeled fullerene families as chemically stable compounds. The radiochemically interesting aspect of the results is not only the production of¹¹C and¹⁴C labeled fullerenes but also the formation of radioactive higher fullerenes which can be simultaneously produced with high yield and in carrier-free form.